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Thursday, 23 February 2012

How to Figure Out The Shape Of Your Boobs

I had a question in my comments regarding breast shape and how that can affect bra fitting. My post on “What Exactly is a Good Shape?” was an importing starting point for this, but I think it’s also pretty important to share a bit of the background to that post. Because I’ve tried so many bras and the shape of my boobs is very stubborn and frustrating, I’m very aware of it. Figuring out your shape is something that tends to happen gradually the more bras you try. But for trickier shapes, or for those who haven’t tried as many bras, it can be more difficult to figure out what shape you are. Once you’ve figured out your shape, you’ll be better equipped to choose bras that will suit that shape.

If you have boobs that are full on top, you will find that you struggle with bras cutting in across the top, especially when there is a ribbon or tighter detail there. In some cases this just means the cup size you are trying is too small, but women with full-on-top boobs will often have this problem even if the bra fits otherwise or is even too large everywhere else. Full-coverage bras can be very hard to fit into properly for those with this shape. If you find that you fit lower-cut bras in a certain size, while bras that have tighter upper section across the top cut in and give a “four boob” effect, you might be fuller on top and more suited to bras that are lower-cut or more open in that part. Stay tuned to this blog for reviews of bras that will work well, as this is the shape I have.

People with boobs that are more full on the bottom are likely to have more luck with bras that have a tighter upper section, like Bravissimo’s Alana and Dotty Spot or Freya’s Arabella. On the other hand, these women might find they need to size up with bras that give a lot of uplift by pushing the bottom of the breast tissue, like Curvy Kate's Thrill Me and Tease Me styles. Women with this shape will also have an easier time fitting into full-coverage bras, though they may find that style doesn’t give as much support and uplift as they’d like. I have no scientific data on breast shape, but from people I have talked to, and my observations of bra designs that sell well, I believe the full on the bottom shape may be the most common shape.

Other women have boobs that are more full on the sides, which I imagine would mean they are better suited to wide underwires; or full in the middle, in which case you might find you 'fall out' of plunge bras in the center. Or, some people’s shape might combine several of the shapes I’ve described. If you've tried lots of bras and have never noticed any of these effects, you might have a balanced shape that doesn't skew to any one direction, which could be good, and mean you fit in a lot of different styles.

If you haven’t been able to try on a lot of bras, you can also start to guess your breast shape based on the shape of your boobs without a bra. See if you can tell where most of the volume of your boobs is, and where they are most firm. For instance, my full-on-top boobs have the most volume on top, and that area is also very firm compared to everywhere else. Your monthly breast self-exam is a good time to investigate your shape while you’re at it.

You also may be able to tell your shape based on the appearance of your boobs without a bra. Although once again this is not scientific and won’t be true of everyone, boobs that are full on top tend to look more like the figure on the left without a bra, while boobs that are full on the bottom tend to look more like the figure on the right.

One last point is that some boobs are close together, while others are set further apart. If you have close-set boobs, you might find that you get a lot of cleavage without trying and need a narrow center gore, or to alter wide center gores so they don’t cause discomfort. If your boobs are wider-set, you might find it is harder to get cleavage when you want it, and you might find it is difficult to find plunge bras that work for you—Cheryl at Invest In Your Chest has talked about this difficulty.

I hope this post is useful to anyone who is working on finding the right bra for her shape. Of course, like any such guide, this is only a starting point. The main point I want to make is that there is no “wrong” shape for breasts. Every shape is normal and attractive, and every shape deserves a bra that fits well. There are lots of different kinds of bras out there, and especially as the market is growing, there will be something out there for everyone. The more you know, the better luck you’ll have.

I can never find the right size for me I have very small girls and they are close set I guess but every bra I buy that isn't for a teen alway shows my girls on the top like they just can be seen from space the whole world gets a looky loo every time I go out it is so embarrassing for me I have to wear layers and I can't wear tanktops alone with a normal bra like everyone else I have itty bitties but if I don't wear the right clothes and bra they are seen by everyone like my actual breasts have a mind of their own to be free and seen by the world. Mortifying.

Have you checked out The Little Bra Company yet? I'm not thrilled with their customer service or return/exchange policies so if you aren't a 28back i would recommend trying some of their styles from another shop who sells them (herroom.com and lindasonline.com are a couple that come to mind) and will do at least one free exchange. I'd also recommend, if you can, buying the same 2 or 3 styles in at least 2 or 3 similar sizes to compare, then return the ones that don't fit. If you can part with the cost for a couple weeks, it'd most likely save you lots in shipping money (not to mention frustration, doubt and time) in the long run. You should also google youtube reviews TLBC. Blessings! :-)

Have you checked out The Little Bra Company yet? I'm not thrilled with their customer service or return/exchange policies so if you aren't a 28back i would recommend trying some of their styles from another shop who sells them (herroom.com and lindasonline.com are a couple that come to mind) and will do at least one free exchange. I'd also recommend, if you can, buying the same 2 or 3 styles in at least 2 or 3 similar sizes to compare, then return the ones that don't fit. If you can part with the cost for a couple weeks, it'd most likely save you lots in shipping money (not to mention frustration, doubt and time) in the long run. You should also google youtube reviews TLBC. Blessings! :-)

Have you checked out The Little Bra Company's bras yet? You can google "TLBC review youtube" for a couple good reviews. They have some posted on their website as well. I'd go there first to see what all they have but, if you aren't a 28back, I wouldn't buy directly from them til you know your size and style for sure. They have a terrible return/exchange policy and the fitter i talked to on the phone put me in a 32A (way too big a band and too small a cup ratio. I'm a 28d/dd or 30c/d.) then when i balked at that she treated me like i was offended at the "A". But I've liked the owner in the interviews i've seen and they have some lovely bras if they fit you. Off the top of my head, two places that carry TLBC and do free exchanges (plus free shipping for initial purchase if over a certain purchase amount) are herroom.com and lindasonline.com - again not much fitting/style help but good customer service otherwise. There are others but that's what i can think of at the moment.

I still have yet to find the 100% correct bra size in the corresponding bra type that fits me perfectly so I'm not completely sure of my breast shape. However, I do know I definitely have narrow, close set breasts. So at least I've learned something. ;)

I do want to add, though, that how soft/hard your breasts are plays a big role too. I've seen this with friends who are younger/have had breast augmentation/little to no weight changes. It seems like they don't have quite as much issue with the quadraboob effect/having breast spilling towards the middle even in poorly fitting bras (and a too big band doesn't seem to affect them nearly as much as it does for me because their breasts are more stable). For me any bra that doesn't have a lot of coverage on the sides=spillage because my breasts are so soft and cups that are even slightly too big/small seem to cause quadraboob because my breasts shift around so much. It can be really frustrating!!

That is definitely a good point. Firmer breasts probably fight more against a poorly fitting bra, but they also require much less from the bra. I wonder if that explains why so many younger women are able to wear the wrong size without suffering much? For me that was never the case, but I have many friends for whom it's true.

I've been thinking about this too and also wonder if it's why I was able to get away with wearing a 36C for years even though it was clearly WAY too big in the back for me.

I suppose too that if you do have firmer breasts and they don't fit the "standard" form then it would be more difficult too because they won't comfirm to the cup shape. Long story short it's impossible to have one cup shape that's going to fit everyone. ;)

I thought I'd throw my thoughts out there as an augmented woman. You can get a full on the bottom shape, but many women with implants fall into the full on top look. But in many women they are definitely a more firm breast. They definitely suffer from fit issues, but the kind depends on the width and projection of the implants. A woman with more projection tends to have issues with cup depth not being deep enough. A woman with wider implants tends to have issues with the wires sitting on the side of the breast tissue. Most women with implants have issues with molded cup bras and getting a good fit, especially if they have minimal breast tissue. And most also have issues finding that perfect bra that fits in the band, cups, gore, and straps. One thing I want to clarify, the band fit is dependent on the overall size of the breast, including the implants. A woman that is a 34C (and in reality may wear a 30DD) will not have a large impact based on the band. But a woman with a 28H (me!!) will need that band support more. I think it has more to do with overall breast size and shape then the implants themselves. Anyways, sorry to ramble. I do a lot of fittings for women with implants. Many times the have a lot of misconceptions about bra fits and how a firm breast should fit in a bra, much less how supportive a band should be.

Thank you so much for posting this! :) Yep, I'm a mix of full on bottom and full on the sides. I've ordered the Harmony bra in a 28J just to try it. This will be the biggest cup size I've tried since I've been kind of intimidated by the letters getting bigger and bigger each time I try different bras. :P

Good luck! That happens to so many people, gradually creeping towards J cup... But really it is just a size like any other, and the more people realize this, the more there will hopefully be more higher sizes made, as JJ and K are still somewhat rare.

Hey, I have one Curvy Kate question for you if you don't mind helping me a bit: I bought the Curvy Kate Romance in 40HH (pictures in my blog) but the cups are a bit big and the band maybe too.

I'm thinking about buying the Angel as well, but I don't know if I should wear the HH cup in that as I think I've read it comes a bit small? I've heard that the Romance is kind of the same model as Emily, so I think you'd have some opinion if they'd both be ok in the same size or if you need a bigger cup in the Angel?

If the Romance is a bit big on you, then the Angel in a HH may be perfect. The Angel definitely runs a bit tighter/smaller than Emily (and probably Romance), but I don't think it is a big enough difference that you would need a J.

In your blog, you do mention the band on the Romance might be a bit big--it might be good to try a 38J to see if that is a better fit. The band on the Angel does run a bit tighter also, though, so the 40 might be okay for that one. I think you might fit the Angel in a 40HH or 38J.

Thank you so much for your discussion of shape as well as size. Shape makes a huge difference to how bras fit and many women waste money buying bras that will never suit them, especially the 40% of women who wear ( or should wear) D cups and above. As to younger women being to wear ill-fitting bras, unfortunately they are storing up trouble for themselves when they get older by wearing ill-fitting and unsupportive bras when young.

Good explanation! I'm pretty sure I have bottom-heavy breasts that are kind of a "fuller" shape. It's always been a bit confusing to me, but this post helps!

Oh, and also, just so you know, I changed my blog address to http://boosaurusbras.blogspot.com/, if you wanted to update it in your bloglist, since the old boosauraus.blogspot address is a dead link now :)

Thanks so much for dealing with the topic of shape. I'm finding your posts very informative and helpful. My frustration with breast shape is that it can change radically over time with factors such as age, hormone changes, breastfeeding, and weight gain. I've hit my late 30s and early 40s at the same time I've been pregnant with and breastfeeding my 2 children (5 years and counting). What an effect this has had on my already large breasts! Over 5 years my breasts have grown (along with the rest of me!) and gone south. As I was limited to 2 styles of nursing bras during this time, and as I didn't have any time to pay attention to style anyways, I tried to ignore my discomfort and growing dismay at looking so frumpy. Now that my eldest child is nearing two, I've decided to return to regular bras (even though I'm still breastfeeding a little). I've never found it so difficult to purchase a bra before. These days my breasts are very full on the bottom (breastfeeding), but also very pendulous and soft (age related sagging). Thus, when I finally fit all of my breast tissue into cup that fits, I have similar problems with someone who is full on the top. Additional problems I have to factor in include my very short torso and my pregnancy weight gain (that I've yet to find the time to get rid of...). I envy women who live in London and New York for the choice in bras in stores you have to try on. I live in a mid-size Canadian city and rely on internet stores. Without some standardization in bra design and manufacturing, the only true way to find a good fit is to try on as many bras as you can. And that simply is not possible when you rely on mail-order and have to spend so much money on shipping and handling and import duties. I wish bra companies would provide better information for women to determine which bra might work for them. I rely on reading fitting advice and customer feedback on retailer web sites, but the results are still very hit-and-(mostly) miss.

As a a fellow Canadian, I've had a lot of luck buying bras (new with tags) from ebay, from a lot of small UK based lingerie companies who sell through it. Shipping tends to be cheaper than from larger online stores, and the best part is I have yet to encounter any import fees!

It is amazing that one can now buy bigger nursing bras! With my first child, nearly 30 years ago, I had to buy a 44" XXX bra and take the band in to fit 32" - neither pretty or a good fit. For my second child for the first two months, I was so large that I had to use what the midwife described as an 'Oxford Binder' - using a folded single bedsheet and several nappy pins!My actual, non nursing size now? UK 30JJ - which was non-existent in those days to buy.

I'm still coming to terms with my shape. I would echo the comments above regarding soft vs firm breast tissue. Having not much experience with boobs other than my own I could never figure out why I couldn't fill the shape of plunge bra - esp those pretty moulded ones like Masquerades entire line or Freya Deco.

You could store a sock in the space between the upper side cup (where it meets the strap) and my chest - my boobs just aren't full up on the sides there. And regardless of the cup size of the bra I always seem to be pressing up about to spill out of the cup as it meets the center gore.

I did end up buying a Deco bra because I wanted something moulded and nude for tops were my nipples would show in a non-moulded tshirt bra and I was too scared to bend over while wearing the bra - I would fall out of the cup at the center and had to head to the bathroom to readjust! Sometimes I think I must be the only Deco hater out there :(

A fitting specialist commented that I was very "soft on top" and would be better with high center gore styles.

I guess this makes me full in the center? Soft? I don't think full on top really describes my boobs because I can't fill most bras out well up near my underarm.

I also find all strapless bras tend to push my boobs outwards even in the right size.

I have the same problem with the Deco bra! After having a baby, I just can't find anything where I don't spill out into the middle of the bra...it's bizarre. And i wanted to love that bra so much :( oh well, the hunt continues. The only bra I can wear currently that looks good is the Fantasie 4510

annnd, to add more info...since my tissue is so loose now, I have to like manually center the nipple within my bra. It's so frustrating!! TMI, but I like to be able to relate to others who may have similar issues. I guess high center gore is really the only option now. And I'm especially susceptible to the quadraboob, so I have to get a PERFECT cup fit. poo!

I read your comment and cried Yes, Yes! I think I must be breast twins with you. Soft and full in centre but sparse near arm. I can actually fit my mobile phone in the 'pocket' where the strap attaches to the bra! And I adore the fit of the Fantasie 4510 - it was my favourite before pregnancy/breastfeeding and is my saviour now. I have the Freya Deco for low cut tops but have always felt extremely busty wearing it: scared to bend over exactly as you describe.

What a fantastic post! I've recently been fitted a 28FF and have begun perusing the reviews of full figure bloggers with great interest. I think it would be terrific if you would call on all of them to interpret their breast shapes and "shape preference" in your context, as some have done already in the comments.

Reviews are just so much more meaningful when breast shape is discussed. I'm full on the bottom and very soft on top, so my mileage will differ from that of many reviewers. For example, the Cleo Lucy was a total letdown for me. The support was good, but it gave me an unsightly bulge along the line where the lace meets the cup... regardless of what size I tried it in!

Wonderful post, and wonderful blog. Having wide set, full on bottom and side, 28E/F's means it's really difficult to bra shop. I can't get cleavage when I want it, or I don't fit in the smaller size here, but need to go down a size in this. It's frustrating lol. But seeing your reviews of things, and what works and doesn't work and WHY (this is left out a lot) means I can (sort of) tell what bras or brands or styles might work for me. Thanks so much for this. And if I might ask a fitting question since you seem to know about fit; I've recently switched from my 'Victoria's Secret size' to my correct size. While I knew what they measured me at (32 C) didn't fit, I just moved up until it did (32 DD usually, rarely a 32D). Unfortunately while I have learned I was wearing the wrong size, the only stores close that measure besides VS are Nordstrom and Dillards both of whom stuffed me into things that just didn't fit. I know this is getting kind of long so to get to my question, I measured myself as 34" over bust with a bra on 27 under bust, and I ordered a 28 E Freya deco. Once I got it it fit.... Ok. A lot better than VS bras. But I get bright red lines from the underwire, and I constantly have to pull myself back into the bra, even though once I do I fill it out very well. I would almost say it's too small in the cup, but after I've slipped out the bottom it seems too big. So my question is as for the lines is this normal from a good fitting bra? And about the instant re-adjusting, is this simple the deco bra on me, the bra in general, the wrong size, ect? Any help on this matter would be great :)

Hi, thanks for your comment! Sounds like you've been having a lot of annoyance with bras, but congrats at least for getting out of those 32 bands!

I think the reason you get the red marks may be that the band on the 28 Deco is too large for you, so it is slipping and sliding around which causes more rubbing than there should be. Some marks are to be expected from a well-fitted bra, just like you'd get from socks, etc, but you shouldn't be having a lot of redness, soreness or pain.

The band being too big would also help explain why you are falling out the bottom. Especially because your boobs have more fullness on the bottom, a too-loose band will not be able to hold them in. Is that a problem you used to have with your 32 bands? I am thinking the band may be too large because you measure only 27, and some people do find the band on the Deco runs a bit looser. People also have very different needs for band sizes and some people require tighter ones while others can get away with looser. Have you tried wearing your Deco on its tightest hook, or experimented with how it feels if you pull the band tighter with your hands? If that seems to help, you may want to either try taking in the band if you're crafty, or perhaps custom ordering something in a 26 band. There is a good tutorial on taking in a bra band here (http://dressingcurves.blogspot.co.uk/2011_10_01_archive.html) and Ewa Michalak does custom 26 bands, as you may have seen on the Thin and Curvy blog (they are non-returnable though, unfortunately).

Otherwise, you may want to try a few different styles of bra. You could try ordering from a different brand, or try a different style. The more bras you are able to try, the more information you'll have on what works.

Thanks so much, that very well may be the problem as I DID do the same with 32s. It's quite annoying when I know I can fill out a bra, my boobs simply won't stay in it lol. I have worn the Deco tighter, in fact when I got it I wore it on the tightest hook, but since it was quit tight and I didn't want to stretch my new bra a lot I started on the loosest. Now I'm on the middle or tightest and it feels fine, though I could stay on the tightest. Thanks from letting me know the Deco runs a bit big for some, as I asked a few people before I bought it and they seemed to either not answer my question or not know themselves. Do you know of any brands/styles that (at least personally) seem to run small in the band? I'm thinking about a bra from Ewa, because I've been on Thin and Curvy and Brittany recommends her so highly, but until then I'd like some I could buy online. I'm in the US so the Internet is my friend with bras.

I'm glad tightening the band helped, that convinces me that a loose band was the problem! As for bands that run tight, if you are okay with wearing unpadded bras, Curvy Kate's Angel has a very tight band, and there are some old colorways for very low prices on Brastop.com. You'd probably want to go up one cup size from your Deco size in that as the Deco runs big in the cups. In my experience the Freya Clarissa (older style) runs very tight in the 28 but that one can be hard to find. Again if you don't mind unpadded, I always found that the band on the Panache Tango bras runs pretty small, so that might be another one to try especially if you can find a bargain.

I measure 25 inches around my ribcage and 9 inches difference around my bust, I for perfectly into Victorias secret 32DD bras cup-wise, but obviously the band is unacceptable in so many ways. I'm having the worse time buying stuff online because I find the cup being hard to fit into.I bought 3 bras to begin with from brastop in a 28F, 2 Flirtelle (Vineyard and Dahlia) and 1 curvy Kate, the cup squishes my boobs but the underwire is all the way under my armpit (I think its too long) and it pushes my boobs outwards. So before I returned it I bought another bra to test out the theory on the cup size being too big because of the wire and I got the curvy Kate "tempt me" in a 28E it feels too small because I have to tuck in my boobs a bit.I'm seriously confused as to what I can do next, any advise please? Would u happen to know what equals a Victorias secret 32DD cup in any brastop bras by any chance?Sorry for the long comment.

I think the problem might be that you sized down to try the Tempt Me, but the Tempt Me runs really small anyway--so although the 28F had cups that were too wide, the Tempt Me in a smaller size would be several sizes too small. If you liked the wideness of the Tempt Me you might try that in a 28F or 28FF, but in terms of finding narrower underwires, Curvy Kate might not be the best bet. I would think you might prefer Freya bras, which have narrower underwires. If you like Victoria's Secret bras you might really like the Freya Deco. The cups on that one run a bit big so you could try a 28F or maybe a 28E. The other patterns of the Deco (like the Carly, Crystal, Taylor, etc) don't run quite as big.

Great post! Do you have any idea what it might mean if the cups fit way better if I bring the straps in toward the center? That don't stay there because I have broad shoulders and developed deltoids, but it totally fixes the slightly wrinkled upper cup I'm getting. It even helps the problem of center/top spillage I get in my current wrong-size bras.

Do you have any experience with someone with Reduced Breast Projection? About 9 years ago as a 19 year old I had a breast reduction. Prior to the surgery I was more full on top but since then, time, age, weight gain and loss and gain and loss and gain and losing, pregnancy, and a failed attempt at breast feeding has left them full on bottom with a bit of a deflated look to them. They are definitely not pendulous or soft and squishy (I never loose or gain weight in my breasts and my surgeon commented that in all the reductions he had ever done mine had the least amount of fat tissue he'd ever seen) but there is a significant loss of apex. Now that I am learning about proper bra sizing (something that had I known about 9 years might have kept me from having the reduction to begin with) I am having a hard time finding a good cup fit. I've been on several blogs that discuss ways and techniques for attempting to measure yourself at home and so I tried them all. Then I found the only decent bra store within 100 miles of my house and drove there. They did a good job, but we struggled with cup size because when I was in a cup big enough to comfortably hold and encompass all the full-on-bottom breast tissue and the migrated breast tissue that I'm hoping to migrate back to where it belongs, the cup would pucker at the apex and gape at the edges making it look as though the cup was too big. We'd try the next size smaller cup and it would cut into the breast tissue on the sides and feel tight in the bottom of the cup and the center gore wouldn't sit right. Even worse, the apex would usually still pucker and in some styles I would somehow manage to even get the dreaded quad-boob. What's surprising is I followed all of these different guidelines for at home measuring, and I know that they're just to help give you an idea, but I was consistently measuring at a UK 38 GG and the bra I ended up leaving with was a 36 band (the 38 was way too loose) and FF cup (Fauve brand) as the GG's I started with (because that's what I asked to start with and the store was quite accommodating) looked like I was a little girl trying on her mom's bra. Its not a perfect fit, but they were out of stock on a lot bras in my size(s) and most of what they had that I was trying on were full coverage (which just exasperated the issue) or had a very high and/or wide center gore which personally doesn't work for me as my breasts are a pinkie finger widths apart. Still it's quite an improvement on the old and busted 40D I was wearing. I'm planning on placing a huge online order of several different sizes of several different styles very soon and any input or ideas of styles or brands I should try (or heck even cautionary tales or what I should avoid) I would greatly appreciate it. I have flagged some of your Alterations posts as I do know how to sew but I'm leaning towards moulded styles of bras as I prefer the shape it gives me because the apex loss is NOT a flattering shape, and it doesn't look like you alter that kind, but I might have just missed that. Thanks in advance for any help or advice you have!

I only recently jumped on the correct-size-bra-band-wagon and am still figuring out what works for me and my scant 27" underbust. I am breastfeeding (10 months and counting) and my breasts are several cup sizes larger than before my pregnancy, but I feel that their basic shape hasn't changed -- they're just bigger. This slightly to my dismay I must admit, as I've never really liked the shape of my breasts and they make finding a fitting bra a nightmare.

I have never considered my boobs full on top (or full-anything for that matter ... ), but some of my fitting issues are definitely similar. My breasts are what I would call 'pear-shaped': a very wide, presumably full-on-all-sides 'base' topped with a puffy areola. They are very wide-set starting practically under my arms with a clear space between them. Their 'heading' is very East-West and, unfortunately, somewhat South. The overall appearance is quite 'conical', not unlike the effect created by a '50s bullet bra, but decidedly less 'perky'. I hope I don't have to explain why this is not exactly a look I covet ... ;)

Anyway, I've only managed to try on two 60/28 models so far, both by Freya: the Patsy and the Piper. The tightly fitting bands were a revelation, but if these two models are typical, unfortunately, Freya and I will never be friends: the wires on what I'm guessing should have been my cup size were FAR too narrow for my shape. The centre gore laid flat on my sternum (a first!) but I had to go up a cup size or two to find wires that fully encircled my breasts. Obviously, there was no way I my pear-shaped boobs were going to fill out those overall larger cups, which happens to be my usual problem with almost every bra I've ever tried. In these two bras MAJOR 'Freya puckers' were the result, but what was more: despite the way too voluminous cups the lacy edge still cut sharply into my breasts, producing the dreaded 'quad-boob' effect in a way I've never experienced. Loosening the straps didn't solve this at all and made the whole thing look even sadder.

As I haven't been able to find any other size 60/28 models than those two Freya ones locally, I will have to take the plunge and start ordering online ... I've read that Panache does wide wires, but might model-wise also be a bit of hit or miss. Suggestions are therefore more than welcome: anybody knows of any models with particularly wide wires, shallow cups, suitable for wide-set, full-on-all-sides-but-not-very-voluminous breasts? :)

I'm still figuring out my shape as well but some of your description - particularly the last line - sounds very familiar. I've recently discovered and am a little bit in love with my Curvy Kate Emily. Brastop seems to be a good bet to try CK as they have lots at reduced prices and accept returns. In a couple weeks I will be able to report how returning the (unbelievably ill-suited to me) Tease Me went.

Can someone please help me?I think I am full on top breasts but close set. (balcony bras I need a larger size but fullcup bras I need the normal size)What bras can I buy?I am sick of spending tons of £s for bras that wont fit or terrorize me:(li_h2009@hotmail.com

Any suggestions for bras that work with large breasts full in the middle and top? I've only had one bra that's actually worked and it was conturelle harmonie. It was very expensive! Anonymous, this is a good bra if you can afford it or find it for cheap.

This was very helpful. I have full on top breasts and also a lot of soft breast tissue, my bust has never been "perky", even when I was a teenager. So now, I'm about to turn 30, and still am finding that my breast shape gives me trouble finding that finding that "perfect" cleavage. It can be a bit frustrating. Your post was very informative, and I love your little drawings! ;)

I have one question, and this is a highly unusual apparently. My breasts happen to be rather ample, and because of the weight, semi-saggy (really, it's only because of the weight). I want them to stop smooshing together. That's right, I DON'T want cleavage. It makes me sweat and they get sticky and gross. Do you have any suggestions for this?Outside of a bra, they keep a fair distance from each other, about an inch or so. Thus far, I have not found any bra that is comfortable that will not give me cleavage (underwires are insanely uncomfortable to me). Any help would be great.

I have one question, and this is a highly unusual apparently. My breasts happen to be rather ample, and because of the weight, semi-saggy (really, it's only because of the weight). I want them to stop smooshing together. That's right, I DON'T want cleavage. It makes me sweat and they get sticky and gross. Do you have any suggestions for this?Outside of a bra, they keep a fair distance from each other, about an inch or so. Thus far, I have not found any bra that is comfortable that will not give me cleavage (underwires are insanely uncomfortable to me). Any help would be great.

I don't like to show much cleavage either, so I'm with you there! You will have a hard time getting them separated without an underwire, though. I'd recommend trying to find an underwired bra that you can be comfortable in. Bending the wires can help, and depending on your size, there are some bras with cushioned underwires.

As for the sweat, I recommend using a little antiperspirant between your boobs. It should help keep everything dry :)

OK, I've got a good one. My breasts are shallow, close set and naturally sit quite high on my torso, which is apparently quite common in women who have very large ribcages relative to their waists (very much me, I'm bony as anything). Also they are the same size. All well and good you might think, I just have to choose the right styles for it, but no! Get this. My right breast is full on top, my left full on the bottom or possibly equal top and bottom. Anything that fits my left breast leaves my right one with about a centimetre of space at the back of the cup and a noticeable bulge at the front of it, with added risk of nipple-slip. The bulge cannot be stopped as anything fuller coverage squashes both breasts down from the top and lacks support at the bottom (if there's squashing I want it to be upwards to keep them out of the way until they're wanted!).

The only solution I've come up with so far is to buy a bra that fits my left breast (since it's the one that behaves itself) and sew in a strip of 2" wide soft stretch lace across the top of the cups at a tension that fits my shape exactly. It works fine, but it takes at least 3 hours to do one bra due to it having to be fitted so precisely and pinned together while I've got it on because of the stretch element, and I'm a fast stitcher! Why can't breasts just be symmetrical? I know most men's testicles are asymmetrical (I've always thought of them as being the closest equivalent dangly bits), but at least they're fairly small!

nice post! in my case, i have close together boobs, since i tend to buy plunge styles because the otherwise the center gore always end up lying on my breast tissue, which i find discomfortable.BUT my boobs never show any cleavage. its /almost/ impossible. i think my deco is the only one who give a little cleavage.

i think that has to do with the fact, that the basis of my breast /like where it grows/ is very wide. so i have wide, shallow breast, that seem to be wider apart but actually aren't. looking at the center, the /growth/ angle is smaller than in your boobs, i'd imagine (judging from you in a deco bra. lol) anyhow, its really hard to discribe /in english/! :D

There really isn't something out there for everyone, especially if your breasts are worn like mine. It's extrodinarily painful for me to wear a bra so I'm starving myself in hopes I will be able to achieve more comfort in my daily life. I know all about my breasts, and no, there isn't anything out there for less than 100 and I simply don't have that kind of money to spend.

I do not speak English well.This letter uses Google Translator.I'm sorry, difficult to read.

I am Korean. My size 74/95 (cm) in Korea is difficult to buy the right bra.South Korea's bra band is usually only produce 70-75-80-85.Cup also A - D (D is less than the standard) / E cup three brands are out there. (Too expensive)

Your blog should be required reading for all women. I've learned more about the shape of my breasts in two days from reading this blog than I have in 25 years of owning them. Learning about their shape doesn't make me like them any more, mind. But, it's probably a step in the right direction. Using the measurements I took last month, I seem to currently be in a 38FF. Though I'm in the process of losing weight, so that is constantly changing. I'm full on top, full on the sides, insanely saggy (they pretty much point due south), and VERY wideset. I can actually fit almost my entire fist between them. They also, despite being full on the sides, point outwards. I'm kind of narrow and deep, and somehow, despite my measurements saying I should be in a 38FF, my 38DD's seem kind of big - though that could be from them being the wrong shape. Basically, they are weird and I hate them. Every underwire I've ever tried ends up sitting like half an inch below my boobs, which then have a tendency to fall out of the bottom of them. Molded cups have a weird tendency to gap on top, probably because my boobs are more conical than spherical. Mind you, I can use my hands to push them into a more rounded shape, just fine. But molded cup bras just don't do anything for me. Have you ever heard of a (fairly) busty woman who gets no support from an underwire and NEEDS a softcup bra to actually hold her up, or is my real issue with underwires likely a sizing issue? I have NEVER found one that give me any kind of support, but I usually get a decent amount of support from a softcup with a reasonably wide band. Actually, the only underwire bra I ever wore that gave me any support was a longline, so it had a good foot or so of "band" under it that was probably doing the actual support. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can't afford to go bra-shopping right now, especially to spend the kind of money I would need to spend on something that truly fits that won't still fit in two or three months, but I plan to spend the time while I'm losing weight to educate myself. Sorry this was so long and rambly (and probably TMI in some places), but I was so excited to find your blog and learn that while I may be a freak, the fact that no bra in any American store actually fits me is NOT one of the things that makes me a freak.

Odd question. I have I'm not sure... Aggressive? Boobs. I basically have to wear very tight fighting crew necks to hide cleavage. Even wearing tank tops under shirts doesn't allow me to wear a v neck. My cleavage literally goes all the way up to my collar bone. Everyone says "I know girls with way bigger boobs that hide them..." But I just can't without turtle necking them (then I feel strangled) is there a special kind of bra that would help? Lol and do minimizers work in that situation? I always was scared to try in fear that they just smush them down lol